Heat-responsive device



Feb. 2Q, 1923.'

' 1,445,7UZ., B. F, MAYO. Y Y

HEAT RESPONSIVE DEVICE.

FILED FEB. Il. 1918. A

Patented heb. 2U, i923..

,iai

BENJALMIN F. MAYO, F SALEM, RIASSACHUSETTS; ETTA MAYO, EXECUTRIX OF SAID BENJ'ATIIN F. MAYO, DECEASED, ASSIGNGR OF ONE-T`HIRD T0 JAMES A BROGAN, 0F LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, AND ONE-THIBJIJ TG PATRICK F. BROGAN, 0F

NEW YORK, N. Y.

HEAT'RESPONSIVE DVJICE.

Application filed February 11, 1913. Serial No. 216,494. p

To all whom if may concern.'

ide it known that l, BENJAMIN F. Maro, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salem, in the county of Essex and State of 5 Massachusetts, have inventedl certain lmprOveme-nts `in Heat-Responsive Devices, oi' which the following description, in `connection* with the accompanying drawings, isa

nspecification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures. l

" This invention relates to heat-responsive devices and particularly to such devices oi" this general class as have means toi nor i5 mally retaining` a. member against displacement and tor releasing the member to permit such `displacement in response to the action of heat. Such devices are used in many difl'erent kinds of apparatus, among which may be mentioned thel sprinkler heads of auto` matie lire eXtinguisliing,` systems, automatic l lire alarms, and mechanism for controlling `the operation of fire doors. Devices oi' this character usually `include one or more mem- '25 bers subject to stress and held normally in place by a resistance member comprisingv `different parts united by fusible material such as solden A difficulty Iwith suc-h devices, as hereto-:tore commonly f used, arises from the tact that substantially the` entire strain to which the resistance member issubjected is thrown upon the soldered joint, 'and many well known fac-tors contribute to render the strength otl such joints variable and uncertain. In consequence damage has sometimes result-ed, as bythe accidental i'elease oi a valve ina sprinkler system. l'Vit-h the object, moreover, of guardiii, Y against suc-h accidents it has been the prac-tice to use 40 a .much larger mass of fusible material in theiesistance member than would be neces sary iiir the `strength of the soldered joint were a certain factor, thereby rendering;h the devices in many cases less quickly resimnsive to the action oi heat than is desirable lt is an object` ot this invention to provide l a-.siinple, durable and readily assembled con struction inwhich the normal stability oi lthe parts of a device of this character will he `practically insured, and in `which only a. comparatively small quantity ot 'fusible material will be necessary to insure such stability, thus` avoiding accidents, wideningv the held of utility of suchdevices, and rendering them more sensitive and `more quickly responsive to theac-tion of heat than here tolore.` As one means oic attaining' the de .sired end, the illustrative embodiment of the invention `comprises a novel construction and arrangement whereby a large portion ot the stra-in upon the resistance member is sustained by means other than the iusibleinaterial. In the construction sho-wn a. strut is arranged in such relation to different parts of the resistance member as to sustain a large portion ot the force applied to the member while leaving a small portion of such force effective with a tendency to separate the parts laterally, and it is only this small coinponent of theitorce that they fusible material is required to resist. important features ci novelty reside in the construction and rela tive arrangement of the different portions oi' the device and in the relation oic the fusible material to the ditte-rent parts.

A furthe-i" feature oi the invention resides in a. novel construction insuring* a. high degrec ofl' strength in the fusible joint uniting different parts. ot a resistance member. y. ln the application of the invention to a resist ance member the parts of which are constrained `to move relatively in a. delinite direction in separating from each other the desired object is attained by providing the` parts with opposed soldered surfaces extending in suoli. relation to thc direction of relative separat-ing movement oi the parts that it is only after a substantial extent ot such movement has taken place that there can be any material increase in the distance be tween said surfaces. ln the illustrative construction one oi the parts ci' the resistance member comprises a portion ot ,generally cylindrical contour arranged to lie l'ietuecii opposits sidewalls oi the other part which extend in substantially parallel rela-tion to the direction in which the parte must ino-ve rela tively in separating, and the solder uniting;v the `parts is disposed between said walls and the opposed surfaces ot the inner part. lt will b-e evident that in such a construction 4.the initial relative separa-ting); movement o'l the parts takes place Without any material increase in the distance between portions ot' the opposite side surfaces ot the inner member and the adjacent opposed surfaces of the outer member, the force tending to rupture the solder being` effective. in a direction or directions substantially parallel to these portions ot the soldered surf ees. lt will be readily recognized that a joint ot this character is much stronger and more assuredly effec-tive than a joint oft the usual construction in which there is nothing other than the solder to restrain the adjacentsoldered surfaces from imn'iediate lateral separation. llllliile the construction herein shown inchicles also the strut liereinbe'liore described Ator resistino' a w-iortion ot the force a allied to the member, and While important advantages are inherent in such a combinationq it Will be understood that construction einbodyinggv a. fusible oint oit this characte has advantages irrespective of the use ot such a` strut, and the invention in its broade aspects is not limited to a combination ot these different features.

lllie invention is herein shoun in its application to valve controlling means suitable for use on automatic sprinklers, but it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrative application but is susceptible ot a variety of uses in various linds of apparatus.

The novel features ot the invention, in* c luding` certain more important details et construction and combinations ot' parts, will now he described With reference to the accompanying` drawings and pointed ou in the claims.'

ln theA drawings,-

Fig. l is a vertical transverse section through a Water supply pipe and an automatic sprinkler provided with vvalve retaining means in which the invention is embodied.

Fig. 2 is a vertical seetion thronffh one ot the resistance members shoivn in l.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 sho'vvinu the parts in partially separated relation.

Fig. el. is a perspective view ot the parts seen in Fips. 2 and El in disasscmblml relu-- tion, and

.Fig

. l prises a nonzle member tlneiuled ii r. o pfniing;` in a Water sln'iplv pipe'ladapted lo hold` water under pressure. Seated on theI opening: in the nozzle is a valve (l, and eX- tendingr upwardly from the member are arms tl which are `ioined at their nppo' entreniities and provided with an opening' in which is threaded an abutment member lll, this member beine' positioned in line with the axis oll the noi/.Zle opening'. ln order to bold tluvulve normally in (lof-cd position the device, in the construction .shown` is provided with a bar 1Q, the opposite end portions of which project at opposit(` sides of the device, this bar having` intermediate between its ends projections ll which serve as -fulcrunis for levers 16 and 1S arranged respectively in engagement with the v: lvcl (l and the abutment ill). The levers 1G and ,121 at their outer ends are cmmectcd to the corresponding` ends ot the bar 12 by rc." members or links., the c n1struction ol' which n'ill be hereinafter described. When the parts are in assembled relation, as shown in Fig. l, the abutment l() is screwed down bring pressure to bear through the lovers and 1S and the bar l2 upon the valve (l in order to hold the valve closed. lt will be evident that in this constriuztion the prcssure of the abutment l() upon the inner end ot the lever i8 and oiI the valve (5 upon thc inner end ol the lever 1G tends to 'lorcc thc outer ends ol! the respm'tive levers and the corresponding' ends ot the bar 12 apart.` and that the links connected to tbc outer ends oV the levers and the bar serve to bold the levers and the bar against displacement. his `general construction forms the subject matter of mv prior llatcnl l\'o. LilQlSflL granted on Der. Z lillfl.

The linl; or resistance numbcr heroin shown at each side of the device consists oli two separate parts 2O and Qi positioned side by side in substantiall'v parallel relation to each other and to the direction ol the torce applied to the member` and a. strut 2l positioned norma lv bet 'een the parts. as shown in ifi, lThe part 2O has a substantiallyv cylindrical portion QG constructed to lit' vvitliin a rorrespomliupr recess QS in tlu` part Q2, the v-.l'all ot said rotV beimY oi generally cylindrical contour n'ltb its axis substantially parallel to the direction ot thc torce applied to the link.v and the cylindrical portion Q6 is cut aivav or recessed to provide a. sloping' snriace lll in engagement with which the strut 2l lies when thc parts are assembled, and also a. lednc or abut-- inout 232 to engage one ond ot the strut. The part has an oponinn` Ill to rcccivc the lower end portion ol' ibo strut il! und lo provide an alndmcnt llf l'or thc lon-cr end olf the slfrllt. this nl ntnnfn beim:A opposed to the lc -f or abutment bl ou tbc part ll. llllien tic parts arc assembled oa shown in lfigr. f2. with tbc :drol ll lviug,y against the inclined surface lll olI tbc mem lrcr 2li and in engnievnunt at ils opposite ends with the abutments 232 and Ilo respectively. in which position the lonritlulirml axis oi: the strut represented by a liuc con- .nectiirs its active abutting' tacos is inclined to the direction ou the Torce applied to thc linlr, l'usible material Srl such as soldm' is :ipplicd in position to hold 'hc paris rez-dust separation. .ln the consti-lullen .slnnvu lll llll

lilo

iny between the` strutl andfthe adjacent portions of the parts 2G and 22 and between the opposed surfaces of these parts `as iai i as thee'dges of the part Q2. lllhena pair ol links have been prepared `in this manner,` they are hooked over the ends oi' the levers landll and thebar l2 assembled as shown `in@hijfltfandthe abutment l is screwed y downltliussubjectingthebarand thelevers to*` stress which tends to separate "the `outer end" portions of thelevers 'from theV corre- Qsponding `end portions of the bai'. `rllhe sof links,`-houie\er, seivefto hold the leversand the bar normally against relative displacement, andin consequence theyalye V6 is held i effectively uponits seat;

"lhe arrows a and o in Figi 2 indicate the directions olf the forcesapphed tothe opi posi'teendsof thelinkwhen the parts of the device are` assembled as shown in Fig; "1;

These forcesyhoweyer, are 'for the inost part counteracted by the strut fli4l, which` prevent-s direct relative "moi/ement ot the,adjaci-int` relation to the directions of said iorces."

vreason ot thefrelatiyely oil'set relation ot the "abutnients32?and laterallyV olf the link, und the incline ot thc longitudinal axe oithe stru'tfl with respect tothe directions of the i toi-ces applied 7to theopposite ends ofthe i linkla sinalllportion` of these forces isei'lec`` y tivewith `a tendencyto cause lateral separa- 'tion iol? the adjacent portions oit `the parts 20 and the two partslthus tending to swing' apa inthe directions ofthe arrows c and d `ui'ider the influence of the `strut Which is `adapted to act as a rocher to `separate the parts, and itis only tliisconiparatiyely small` i i y portion ofthe force applied tothe linlrthat the solder 3S is *requiredutof sustain. Danger of accidentfresulting' from prematurefbrealiaire oit theioint is therefore rendered practically negligible;"` and since such security against accident requires only a comparative sinall quantity of solder `in the oint', proinptv action of the device to eliectthe release ot the fvalye under the influence ot abnoii'inal heatisrendered certain. y l i By rreference"particularly to i it will l' i seen that apoi'tionoi the solder beeen the parts and 22 ilies :itopposite ot the substantiallycylindrical Yincroliier @Gand between this member and the adi I j arent -ii'i'ibraci ni surfaces otthe` part :32, `the wall` oil thelatteipart being: esten'deil :t

rcction `o'lE relative lateral separat-ing' move- `nient ot the parte` Y lt will be evidenty that witlifthe partsconstructed and arranged shown and describcdno separating moreA nient ol the parts 2O and Q2 can take place u'itluiut causing' aslilistanl'ial relative i'uovcy Fig. the solder hasbeenapplied in the opening' 231i and has been permitted to run illustrated and described, itWill be underportions oi the parts 2O andQQ` in paralleli througlifto provide an abutment and the cons'iilerable distance laterally ol' the link ii substantially parallel relation to the `('Ii-` nient of portions oi" theadjacentsurfaces of the respectiieparts atopposte'sides of the resistance ineniber during which the distance-between said surfaces will not be inaterially increased. l/Vith the `fusible material between surfaces constrained to more' relatively in such relation, a. `hifldi degree of strengtliin theijoint is insured.` e

y A tiri-ther f advantage `in the' use of the conetriiiction"shown,` aside i'roin the important advantageoi' its simplicity,` arises from the "tact Itliatthe solder is for the inostl part,` inthe `interior j of the link i and thus substantially protected `from accidents such-` `as might alter 'undesirably its norinal degree oisensitiveness. i f YllVhilethe invention is` lieieiirshown' asl embodied inl-f a li'nltconstructed i to"` resist :toi-ces applied and directed in. themanner` stoodthatthe essential principles of the invention, lin its broader aspects, are not restricted to this particular illustrative appliinclose'd between said `parts and arranged ttor opposite engagement with said abutment and ivithaivall oi said opening` respectively aiidfin such `relation. to the parts asto tend to separate tlieiii laterally through the force applied to the meinber, and fusible inaterial i tor holding` the parts normally against separation. i y

` `2. lili a device of the class describi-id, a resistance membercomprising twol parts arranged side by sideooneojl said parts having i a recess extending` only partially thereother harian' an openingextending laterally .tl'iifaiethrough to direct. ttul-sible material 'in s id recess. a strut between said parts ariaiigedlor oppocte engagement with said abutment and n `a i "all ot said opening Y respectivelyandin init-lr i'elatioiii` to the parts as 'to tend to separate theni `latena-lly through the torce aiiplied to the ineniber. and "fusible materiall in "said opening-5 "and between the parts for holding;- them normally `against separation; i i 1 c 8, ln a device of the class described` 'afre-` i lance member comprising, parts arranged e by sideN one oi saidparts harii'ip; ii recess` lthcrciii to prorideaii inclined surface and roo` an abutment at one end of said surface, 4the other part having an opening extending therethrough providing an abutment opposed to the abutment on said lirst named part, a strut extending lengthwise along said inclined surface with its opposite ends in engagement respectively with said abutments, and fusible means for holding said parts and the strut norm-ally in assembled relation.

4. In a device of the class described, a resistafnce member comprising parts arranged laterally adjacent to each other and one ot which partially `embraces the other, said parts being formed to provide a recess be tween them,r -a strut positioned in said recess with its opposite end portions in engagement respectivelyy with fthe different parte and with its longitudinal axis inclined to the direction of the torce applied to the resistance member to effect lateral separation ot the parts in response to said force, the strut being smaller in cross section than said recess7 and fusible material in said recess adjacent to the strut for normally holding the parts against lateral separation` one oi the parts having an opening therethrough communicating with a portion oit the recess which adjacent to the strut for admitting the fusible material when-the different portions of the member are assembled.

In a device ot the class described, a resistance member comprising two parts. one

lying within a recess in the other, a strut between said parts with its longitudinal axis inclined to the direction of the force applied to the member to effect lateral separation of the parts in response to said torcea and fusible material in Vsaid recess for normally holding the partstogether.

6. In a device of the class described, a resistance member comprising parts arranged side by side in substantially parallel relation with one of said parts positioned within a recess iny the other part, a strut comprising a bar extending lengthwise between said parts at an angl-e to the direction ot' the torce applied to the member with its opposite end faces in abutting relation to the respective parts, and fusible material between said parts and in contact with said strut tor holding said parts and the strut normally in assembled .relation.

i'. In a device of the class described. a resistance member comprising two parts arranged longitudinally side by side with a concave recess in the side ot one part and coni'ex portion on the other part to lie in said recess, a strut inclined laterally ot said parts to effect lateral. separation of the parts through 'force applied longitudinally of the member, and fusible material between the concave and convex portions ot the respective parts and at substantially opposite sides oi the inner part to hold the parts normally against lateral separation.

8. ln a device ot the class described, a resistance member comprising two parts arranged to be subjected to torce tending to move them relatively and positioned side by side in substantially parallel relation to the direction ot' said force, one ot' said parts having a lateral rc'` with a wall of generally cylindrical contour partially embracing the other part, a strut inclined to the direction ot said torce with its opposite ends engaging the diliferei'it parts respectively to constrain the parts to sej'iarate laterally in response to said torce, and 'fusible material in said recess substantially at opposite sides of the inner part -tor holding the parts normally against. relativo movement.

9. ln a device ol the class described, the mmhnntien with members subject to a 'torce tending to more them relatively apart; of a resistance link comprising two parts arranged side by side and connected respectively to said diliercnt members, one of the parts having a concavely curved recess in one side within which a portion olt the other part is received, a strut in said recess and between the parts arranged with its longitudinal axis inclined laterally ot the link to prevent said parts from moving relatively in the direction of the torce applied to the link except with a component ol relative movement in a direction at an angle to the direction ot said torce. and fusible means for normally preventing relative movement of the parts in said angular direction.

l0. ln a device ol' tho class describcih a resistance member comprising tivo parts arranged to bc subjected to torce tending to move them relatively. one ol said parts having a contour convexly curved in transverse section and the other part having a lateral recess to receive a portion of said first named part, means tending to separate the parts laterally in response to the force applied to the member. and fusible material lying between tho adjacent surfaces ol said parts at substantially opposite sides of said convexly curvedpart lfor holding the parts normally against separation.

ll. In a device ot the class describcrh a resistance member comprising two parts arrangeil to be subjected to 'l'orcc tending to move them relativi-ily. one ofi said parts having in one side a recess with a boundary wall curved about an axis substantially parallel to the direction olt the .force applied to thc memb and cxtenrled laterally oi the member 'for partially embracing the other part and said other part having a portion constructed. to lie in said recess. a strut arranged to bear oppositely against said parts and to sustain the major portion of the torce applied to the member with its longitudinal axis inclined laterally ot the member to etlect relative lateral separation ol the parts in responso to .said torce. and 'fusible matclll() I resistance member comprising two parts extending lengthwise in substantially parallel relationto the direction of force applied to the member and one or' which partially incloses the other, a device for preventing relative lengthwise movement of said parts except with a component of relative lateral movement, the inclosing part having surfaces at opposite sides of the inner part eX- tending laterally ol the inner part in generally parallel relation to the direction of such relative lateral movement of the parts, and fusible material between said surfaces and the inner part for holding the parts no1'- mally against relative movement. i

13. lin a device of the class described, a resistance member` comprisingtwo parts one of which is arranged partially to embrace the other with the opposed surfaces of the parts at opposite sides of the `member sodisposed as to require a substantial extent of relative lateral separating movement of the parts before materially increasing the distance between said surfaces, a strut between said parts arranged to. sustain a portion of the force applied to the member with its longitudinal axis inclined to the direction of said force to cause the parts to separate laterally in response to said force, and fusible material between said opposedsurfaces for ot the member.

141-. In a device of the class described, a resistance member comprising tWo parts one of which has a portion of substantially cy lindrical contour` extending lengthwise in substantially parallel relation to the directionoif the force applied to the member and the other being constructed for partially embracing said cylindrical portion, said parts having recesses in their opposed faces to provide oppositely disposed abutments, a strut lying in said recesses at an angle to the direction oi the force applied to `the member', and fusible material for holding said parts and the strut normally assembled.

15. In a device of `the class described, a resistance member comprising parts arranged to be subjected to a force tending to separate them, a member arranged to bear oppositely against the respective parts and to act as a rocker to force them relatively apart in a direction substantially at right angles to the direction of said torce, one of the parts partially inclosing the other and having opposite side walls with surfaces extending in substantially parallel relation to `the direction in which the parts are constrained to move relatively by the action of said rocker, and fusible" material between said surfaces and the inner part to hold the parts normally against relative movement.

ln testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. i

BENJAMIN F. MAYO.

*Certificate of Correction. I

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,445,702, granted February 20, 1923, upon the application of Benjamin F. Mayo, of Salem, Massachusetts, for an improvement in Heat-Responsive Devices, errors appear in the rinted specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 117, claim 2, a ter'the Word material insert the words between the parte, (L stmt, and line 118, strike out the Words a strut between said parts and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these Corrections therein that the saine may conform to the record of the oase in the-Patent Oiice.

Sig-ned and sealed this 29th day of May, A. D., 1923. y

[SEAL] KARL FENNING7 A effing Commissioner of Patents. 

